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The Yellow House

304 pages, 2019

biographies & memoirs

biographies & memoirs

997 books
history

history

999 books
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Description

When Sarah M. Broom's mother, Ivory Mae, bought a shotgun house in New Orleans East with the hopes of building her world inside of it, she was unwittingly constructing her own tomb. 

The Space Race had just begun and the neighborhood was home to a major NASA plant—the postwar optimism seemed assured. Widowed, Ivory Mae remarried Sarah's father, Simon Broom; their combined family would eventually number twelve children. But after Simon died, six months after Sarah's birth, the Yellow House would become Ivory Mae's thirteenth and most unruly child. 

A book of great ambition, Sarah M. Brooms The Yellow House tells a hundred years of her family and their relationship to home in a neglected area of one of America's most mythologized cities. This is the story of a mother's struggle against a house's entropy, and that of a prodigal daughter who left home only to reckon with the pull that home exerts even after it's gone."

The Power of Home

The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom explores the deep connection between a person and their home. The author's childhood home in New Orleans becomes a character itself, shaping her life and identity. It's a reminder to us all that our roots and upbringing play a significant role in who we become.

Impact of Socioeconomic Factors

Broom's book gives us a glimpse into the harsh realities of poverty and racial inequality. It shows how these factors can impact a family's life and future. It's a call to action for us to understand and address these issues in our society.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Sarah M. Broom's family faced numerous challenges, including the devastating Hurricane Katrina. Yet, they remained resilient. This book is a testament to the human spirit's ability to endure and overcome adversity. It encourages us to stay strong, no matter what life throws at us.

Importance of Family Bonds

The Yellow House emphasizes the importance of family bonds. Despite their struggles, Broom's family stayed together, supporting each other through thick and thin. It's a reminder that family is not just about blood relations, but about love, support, and togetherness.

Understanding History and Its Impact

Broom digs into her family's history, tracing back to her grandmother's era. She shows how past events and decisions can have a lasting impact on future generations. It encourages us to look into our own history and understand how it shapes our present and future.

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Quotes 4

The Yellow House is a transformative, immersive memoir that will alter your perspective on the world around you.

Dwight GarnerDwight Garner - Book Critic

Sarah M. Broom's The Yellow House is a groundbreaking work that adds a crucial voice to the discussion about race and class in America.

Margaret Wilkerson SextonMargaret Wilkerson Sexton - Novelist

The Yellow House is a monumental achievement in American literature, a book that bears witness to the truth of the lives it depicts.

Ibram X. KendiIbram X. Kendi - Historian

The Yellow House is an extraordinary memoir that will leave you moved and transformed.

Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey - Media Executive
Dwight GarnerMargaret Wilkerson SextonIbram X. KendiOprah Winfrey

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